Vacuum Insulation Panel Enclosure With Paper Layer Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum insulation panels are delicate and prone to mechanical damage due to low rigidity, leading to non-uniform powder distribution and longer evacuation times, which complicates manufacturing and handling.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum insulation panel with a complex layer sequence including a sealing layer, barrier layer assembly, and a paper layer on the outside, providing increased rigidity and a smoother surface, allowing for more stable and automated manufacturing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a thin enclosure is used to minimize panel thickness, then the panel achieves better insulation performance with lower thermal conductivity, but the panel becomes mechanically fragile and prone to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is constructed as a composite structure with an inner barrier layer (e.g., aluminum foil or metallized film) providing gas tightness and thermal reflection, and an outer protective layer (e.g., plastic film or coating) providing mechanical strength and damage resistance. This composite design allows the panel to maintain low thermal conductivity while achieving sufficient mechanical strength for handling and installation.
2Reliability
If evacuation is performed through a narrow opening with filter material, then powder dust is retained and sealing seams are protected from contamination, but the evacuation time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The core material is pre-loaded into the enclosure through a wide opening before the narrow evacuation opening is sealed. This preliminary loading action allows the bulk of the material to be inserted quickly, after which the narrow opening with filter material is closed and evacuation proceeds without further material input, thus avoiding contamination while minimizing total time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening is functionally segmented into two stages: a wide loading opening for rapid material insertion, and a narrow evacuation opening with filter material for controlled vacuum creation. This segmentation allows each opening to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall process time while maintaining sealing integrity.
3Device complexity
If evacuation is performed through a single narrow opening, then the process is simpler to implement, but the powder distribution across the panel surface becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single narrow opening, the system employs multiple evacuation openings distributed across the enclosure. This dimensional change from one-point to multi-point evacuation allows gas to be removed from different regions simultaneously, resulting in more uniform powder distribution across the panel surface while maintaining relatively simple system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution results in a more robust and less susceptible vacuum insulation panel with improved mechanical resistance and uniform powder distribution, enabling its use as self-supporting elements in containers and reducing the risk of mechanical damage.
Implementation Method 1
the barrier layer assembly (6) has a gas permeability of less than 100 mbar liter/m2 and year, preferably of less than 10 mbar liter/m2 and year, and particularly preferably of less than 2 mbar liter/m2 and year
Implementation Method 2
it is possible to evacuate the space within the enclosure and consequently to bring the thermal conductivity of the vacuum insulation panels to very low values
Implementation Method 3
a circumferential sealing seam, along which the two barrier films are sealed to one another with the aid of the sealing layers by means of thermal welding
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum insulation panel comprises a planar core having an open-pored material and an enclosure that surrounds the core on all sides in a close-fitting, complete and gas-tight manner. The enclosure has at least the following layers, listed in order from the inner layer next to the core to the outer layer: a sealing layer of polyethylene; a barrier layer assembly arranged thereon, the assembly comprising at least one metallized polyester film, EVOH film, metallized EVOH film, metallized PP film, or plastic film coated with alumina or silicon oxide; and at least one paper layer arranged on said assembly.